Basiliká the works of King Charles the martyr : with a collection of declarations, treaties, and other papers concerning the differences betwixt His said Majesty and his two houses of Parliament : with the history of his life : as also of his tryal and martyrdome.

LII. To the Lords and Commons, at their Recess, OXFORD, April 16. MDCXLIV.

MY Lords and Gentlemen, I am now brought to you by your selves; for I should not so soon have parted with you, if you had not desired it: and I believe that the same zeal and affection to Me and your Country which hath brought and stai'd you here, hath caused you to seek this Recess, that so by distributing your selves into your several Countries, we may all the better reap the fruits of our Consultations. Where∣fore in God's name dispose of your selves as you think fit. I heartily thank you for what you have done, and fully approve of what you desire.

I think most, if not all, of you are ingaged in My Service, either in a Civil or Mar∣tial way. To you that have charge in My Armies I recommend the diligent attendance on your Commands, that so by your good example and discipline you may suppress Li∣cence and Disorder, which will discredit, and may destroy the best Cause.

And to you who are ingaged in the Civil Affairs, I must recommend these few par∣ticulars: That you expedite those supplies of Monies which, by your advice, I have sent for, whether by Subscription or Excise; remembring that Monies are the Nerves of War.

Likewise that you use your best diligence for the pressing of men, and incouragement of Voluntiers, by shewing them, that now the only way to preserve themselves from Slavery and their Country from Ruine, is freely to ingage their persons.

But chiefly, and with all possible care, to inform all My Subjects of the barbarity and odiousness of this Rebellion, how solicitous I have been for Peace, and how insolently and scornfully rejected; assuring them, that My Arms are raised and kept only for the defence of their Religion, Laws, and Liberties, which being once secured and vindi∣cated, I shall most chearfully lay them down, I having, God knows, with much un∣willingness taken them up.

Lastly, assure them that these extraordinary ways which necessity hath produced, and most of them not without your consent or advice, for My supply, shall not here∣after be brought in example to their prejudice; and I shall in the mean time do My best to prevent and punish all exorbitancies and disorders.

To conclude, My Lords and Gentlemen, I do now again, yet never enough, thank you for your great and unanimous expressions of your affections to Me, which hath laid an unexpressible obligation upon Me: and be assured that there is no profession which I have made for the defence and maintenance of our Religion, Laws, and Li∣berties, which I will not inviolably observe.

Now God, who hath blessed this Meeting with an unexpected unanimity, which I esteem as one not of his least Blessings, will, I hope, bring us all safe together again the eight day of October next. In the mean time I shall be ready to receive any thing from your Committees that shall be desired.